Staying in tune and keeping positive: Redefining music teacher practices for online learning in Australia

Teaching music during the pandemic has been challenging, time consuming, and stressful due to several lockdowns in Australia. This article focuses on initial findings from a national project (Reimaging the future: Music teaching and learning, and ICT in blended environments in Australia) that investigated music teachers’ perspectives regarding how the shift to online teaching using ICT, impacted teachers’ wellbeing from the start of the pandemic. A range of Australian peak music organisations were invited to participate in the project, covering all states and territories and a range of educational settings. Using a qualitative approach (online Qualtrics survey, N=105, March-April 2021), thematic analysis was employed to analyse and code the data. The findings highlight two overarching themes (adaptive teaching and balancing wellbeing) and four emergent themes (resources, confidence and competence, social connections, and leisure activities). Responses illuminate how teachers redefined their practice and how their experiences impacted wellbeing. Recommendations advocating ongoing research to ensure teachers ‘stay in tune and keep positive’ within the profession are made. Conclusions highlight the need for Australian policy makers, media, and educational jurisdictions to support teachers and adopt a positive stance in a post-COVID, normal environment.